Page 44 of Monster Daddies

The bond between us flares so bright and strong it steals my breath.

Not fraying anymore. Not hurting.

Healing.

Viraat huffs, crossing his arms, but he doesn't push her.

I can feel the crackle of his emotions through the bond. Annoyance, protectiveness, fear... but also curiosity.

Good.

She's reaching for us.

Avalon hugs the book tighter for a second, almost like she's gathering courage, before she pads back across the nursery and presses it into my hands.

It's heavy. Older than anything I've ever held.

The cracked leather smells like dust and magic.

"I think," she whispers, fiddling with the hem of her nightgown, "I think it's a way to wake you up during the day."

My heart stops.

The bond between us roars like a wildfire, flooding my chest with so much fierce, bone-deep hope I almost stagger.

Could this really be?

A way to be with her? To protect her during the day?

No more helpless hours locked in stone. No more waiting, hoping she'd be safe until the sun set again.

I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and drop to one knee so we're eye level, cradling the ancient book like it's a living thing.

"Little one," I rasp, reaching out to catch her hand in mine. "You found this?"

She nods, cheeks pink, bottom lip wobbling slightly before she shrugs. "Well, kind of. The manor showed it to me."

"Why didn't you show it to us when you found it?" There's a trace of annoyance in Viraat's tone and it takes everything I am to stop myself from smacking him.

That will only piss him off,andprobably get me a smack too.

Avalon bites her lip, looking at us from under long lashes. "It's... there's... Ugh." She rubs her hands down her face and takes a big breath. "It means you'll lose your magicandthe house will too. And I can't ask that of you. Iwon'task you to give up half of yourself during the day so that I can have you with me."

Viraat cuts her off before she can continue on her jumbling babble with a low growl.

"Silly girl," he mutters, but there's not heat to it now. Only a rough affection. He pulls her closer and lays a soft kiss on her temple. "We're yours. You are ours. Magic is a small price to pay to be with you, always."

Avalon's lip wobbles as she looks at him, tears shining in her eyes. The bond hums so strong and sure it almost feels like a heartbeat between us. I can't believe that it felt so fragile just a few short minutes ago.

Sparrow meows sharply at our feet, and Avalon scoops him up, pressing her face into his ragged fur for a moment before turning back to me.

I rise slowly to my feet, cradling the book to my chest the way she had, feeling the weight of it settle deep in my bones. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit worried about losing my magic. What if I wasn't enough to protect her without it?

But I'd give it up, just for the chance to try.

I'd give up anything for those precious hours with her, because the sun isn't our only enemy.

Time still is.